Ashton's face. "I trust nothing has happened to him," he
exclaimed. "Where did you part company with him, Mr. Carteret?"
"That's more than I can tell you, sir. You must have seen--at least--no,
you were not there; but those looking on must have seen me get ahead of
him within view of the starting-point; soon after that I lost sight of
him. The river winds, you know; and of course I thought he was coming on
behind me. Very daft of me, not to divine that the boat had been
removed!"
"Do you think he passed the mill?"
"The mill?"
"That place where the river forms what might almost be called a miniature
harbour. A mill is built there which the stream serves. You could not
fail to see it."
"I remember now. Yes, I saw the mill. What of it?"
"Did Lord Hartledon pass it?"
"How should I know!" cried the boy. "I had lost sight of him ages before
that."
"The current is extremely rapid there," observed Dr. Ashton. "If he found
his arm failing, he might strike down to the mill and land there; and his
ankle may be keeping him a prisoner."
"And that's what it is!" exclaimed Val.
They were crossing the hall to the dining-room. Without the slightest
ceremony, the countess-dowager pushed herself foremost and advanced to
the head of the table.
"I shall occupy this seat in my nephew's absence," said she. "Dr. Ashton,
will you be so good as to take the foot? There's no one else.
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